The Chiefs suffered another early playoff exit, but you should expect them back in the playoffs next season.
The Chiefs in fantastic Chiefs fashion blew a 21-3 lead in the second half and fell to the Titans at home 22-21. It’s the franchise’s sixth consecutive home playoff loss, and they haven’t won a won a playoff game at Arrowhead stadium since Joe Montana was their quarterback back in 1993.
The Chiefs had an up and down season starting 5-1 and then going 1-5 in their next six games before closing out the season with four straight wins and another division title. Since Andy Reid got to Kansas City the Chiefs have done nothing, but win they just can’t seem to get over the hump in the playoffs. This was supposed to be their year to get that monkey off their back, but alas they face an offseason of questions.
If you want the half glass full point of view you can look at it like this. The Chiefs championship window is bigger than you might think. The Patriots dynasty looks to be on its last leg, Ben Roethlisberger may retire at the end of this season and the Chiefs have an extremely talented core. That core group of guys the Chiefs have leads me to my first point as to why the Chiefs can make it back to the playoffs next season.
They have a dynamic offense
The Chiefs had one of the most potent offenses in all of football this season. Alex Smith had a career year and led the NFL in passer rating this season. He was also the leagues best downfield passer. It remains to be seen if the Chiefs will retain or trade Smith this offseason, but with Patrick Mahomes, in the waiting, there won’t be a decline in offensive firepower next season.
The Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard rusher and have a tight end and a wide receiver both go for 1,000 yards as well. Tyreek Hill in his first season as a full-time number one receiver proved he’s more than capable of not only handling the position but being one of the best in the league.
Travis Kelce is widely regarded as possibly the best tight end in the NFL, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He’s recorded back to back 1,000-yard seasons and has had three straight season of 100-plus targets. Had he not suffered a concussion in the Chiefs playoff game against the Titans he was well on his way to shredding their defense to bits. He caught all four of his targets for 66 yards in the first half.
As for Kareem Hunt, he already has a rushing title under his belt in his rookie year and is only going to get better. The Chiefs were undefeated whenever Hunt rushed for 100 yards or more. Obviously, he didn’t do that in the playoffs because the Chiefs came up short. Hunt, in just one year, has already solidified himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL and he’s only going to get better.
You pair all three of those guys with Patrick Mahomes, and you have an offense that is somewhat similar to the Los Angeles Rams in the way they can put up points in a hurry. Mahomes already has one career start, and he beat the Broncos with a backup offensive line, a fullback as his primary running back and only two healthy receivers. Imagine what he can do when he has a full complement of weapons at his side.